Camp Bobby

“When I look at the program we devised, I don’t think of it as tough. But it seems it’s different because a lot of people are frowning. I just asked them to give (it) a few days,” Valentine said, according to The Boston Globe.

“We all know that nobody likes change except for those who are making other people change to do what they want them to do. I happen to be one of those guys who likes change because guys are doing what I want them to do,” Valentine said, according to the report. “I would bet there will be 100 guys who won’t really like it because it’s change for them. But they’ll get used to it.”

…”Everyone says (spring training) is too long. I think that’s baloney,” Valentine said. “To get guys really ready, I think everyone’s working the deadline to get a starter with 30 innings and five (starts). The numbers just don’t compute.”

[3] After Al's Kuroda piece, maybe AJ's nix deserves further consideration. How many World Series rings does he need? He's got two already. And did you know his wife is afraid of flying? I don't know if those are the reasons he nixed the deal, but could be there's more to it than just good team / bad team.

I have to laugh about baseball players complaining how tough it's going to be in spring training. Let them do what football players have to do, wearing all that padding and equipment in the oppressive heat and humidity of August. By comparison, spring training is a walks in the park.

Valentine's also right about the length of spring training. If you only had to worry about position players, then yes, spring training is too long. But pitchers need everyone of those six weeks to get ready for the season.

Just look at how bad the quality of play in the NBA has been after a shortened pre-season. Awful. Or maybe, I'm just watching too much of the Nets.